Collison’s defense was substantially better in the second half than the first half. Is it sustainable? Are the defensive shortcomings the bench at closing out on opposing shooters because of a lack of effort or because they are not good enough and are getting burned?

Axxer

This

Digby Howis

I hear the narrative about Collison’s defence but of what I’ve seen, I think his defence is decent. Are our standards too high with Bledsoe fresh in our minds? Are we subconsciously comparing him to CP3? What’s his defensive PPP?

Clips4

Digby, it’s not that I’m comparing Collison to Bledsoe or CP3. CP3 is not that great of a defender in all honesty. He gets burned a lot by faster guards. CP has great hands which helps him get a lot of steals. In terms of him being a defender, he is better than Collison because of his awareness and effort. Collison’s defense has been mostly effort from what I have seen. I know he’s not capable of staying in front of most guys and that is something he needs to work on in terms of strengthening his body to improve his lateral quickness. What I’m talking about is how he closes out on shooters. Multiple times, I have seen him run out at shooters without an arm up to contest shooters. His closeouts are just lazy. If he improves his effort and mental focus on defense, the Clippers will be much better. I know Crawford has put in more effort this year than in previous years to improve his defense. I am fine with him getting burned as long as he is putting out maximum effort on defense. Collison’s defense is inexcusable and it showed after half time when Doc or someone else might have talked to him about it to the point his defense improved substantially in the second half.

Digby Howis

So it’s mostly effort. I’ll watch this area too

http://www.bboy360.com/ Bboy 360

When Blake Griffin is guarded by Dwight Howard they should give it to DeAndre in the post. They only give it to him when a guard drives and has no where else to go but pass it to DeAndre.

Axxer

DJ is a little turnover prone in the post, so I would only do it when someone else attracts attention.

Digby Howis

The only way he won’t be TO prone is to keep giving it to him so he can learn in game.

BenoitBenji

Crawford’s name has come up in trade rumors/talks. Would you trade him for a big? Who do you think is viable?

dennisk111

Isnt Marcus Camby available? Can’t the Clips pick him up?

Clips4

The Clips want a guy who’s capable of playing. Camby is injury prone not to mention old as well.

Alfredo Rodriguez

In addition, Doc Rivers only wants players who haven’t won a championship yet.

Digby Howis

Has he said this?

Alfredo Rodriguez

No, but you will notice major similarities between this Clipper’s team and the 2007-08 Celtics team. Only Sam Cassell was the one with rings, but he didn’t join until after the trade deadline – and he, too, was a bought out player. I have a feeling history is going to repeat itself.

Digby Howis

Ahh okay.

raptor33

1. Why does Redick not like to throw up lobs? There’s been a couple of instances where he took the layup (made and missed some) instead of tossing the lob to his big men.

2. Andrew, it looks like Mullens is hungry, can you give him a compliment sandwich based on his Clipper career thus far?

Digby Howis

Has he said “I don’t like throwing lobs”? I wouldn’t put to down to anything more than he’s a scorer, not a facilitator per say. If he can score he will. Doesn’t he hold the Duke scoring record?

Someone needs to take Mullens aside, slap him a few times and tell him to wake up. He’s playing soo bad.

dukenilnil

There is a technique to throwing lobs. Some players are good at it, some aren’t. He is still a good facilitator but he passes with more traditional bounce and chest passes. Not sure he’s played with above the rim players before (Dwight never lobbed the way they do here) so he just doesn’t have much practice with it.

Ron

There was a definite deliberate effort to get blake the ball in the fourth. And that’s how it’s going to have to be this season to get farther. Nothing against CPs heroics we have seen but if blake can’t be a threat nothing will change.

Alfredo Rodriguez

There was a play in the third quarter where Griffin asked for a lob, but Paul opted to toss it to Jordan. I thought that Griffin not getting that lob may have ruined his focus, but he still put up 22 PTS (including a 3-pointer) and played some good defense against Dwight Howard. What’s your current opinion of Griffin and his basketball maturity? Was Paul’s decision of lobbying to Jordan an effect of last year’s predictable offense where all the lobs were caught by Griffin?

Clips4

Why would you think Blake would have his focus ruined for not getting a lob from CP and it getting thrown to DJ?

Alfredo Rodriguez

This was something that happened in the past under Vinny Del Negro. It didn’t happen tonight.

Clips4

It might have happened with DJ because he knew he wasn’t going to get minutes under VDN. They both know their role this year so not getting a lob should and will not affect their focus.

Jake C.

Impressed that the Clippers won the rebound battle against an Asik/Howard led team? Box outs and general court awareness around the boards seemed improved tonight.

Axxer

Something interesting to note: of players collecting at least 10 rebounds per game, DJ is first in the league in Percentage of Rebounds per Chance. Griffin is second. Note that these statistics are from before tonight’s game.

Digby Howis

CP3 picked up a couple of fouls down low, swiping at Howard. Why does CP3 find himself so close to the basket?

Digby Howis

I noticed CP3 got rattled with Beverly.

Clips4

Beverly is a very good on-ball defender. He’s a poor man’s Bledsoe.

Digby Howis

Yeah he looked it. Any other PG’s better that Beverly?

Digby Howis

To get rid of the hack a shaq strategy, is there any circumstances when you could nominate the player to take the FT’s? Like a technical foul?

I.e. Any off ball foul? What about the worst FT shooter can nominate a player to take the shots?